BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Karthik M. Siddhun		How to Calibrate when eqipment shows EV is -2 ? Hi friends, Good morning, I have own Canon EOS3000N/RebelGII/66 -28-80mm.Recently I started fully operating on Manual mode.When I start taking shots on Sunny time, I am following Sunny F16 rules. I am finding serious trouble on Calibrating my metering system as when I set f16-1/500-for ISO400 film (as 1/400s is not available in my camera),the EV meter shows -2. Is it right, to choose like this nearest other shutter speed value? Even focusing on grey (my grey jeans used) subject, with different f stops, the meter reading shows always "-2". For example, for f8,1/1500(1/1600 is not available in my camera)ISO400, it meters EV -2.????? As far as my reading (theory) knowledge says,to alter the ISO setting on Camera to make it "0" to tune the camera,i.e calibration. But I am not sure and find trouble extremely on bringing EV -"0" by altering ISO.It is not happening. I am afraid of seeing ISO ends up 4000 to bring EV "0" with 1/20s at f16. Is it also something wrong on behavior of canon camera? In other way,when I tried to adjust the shutter speed to bring EV-0,it ends up 1/3 sec. It is slow shutterspeed. Is it right? Is this normal behavior of all SLR cameras? As I have never used other SLR cameras before,(this is my first SLR camera)I am very much confused.I would be very much thankful, if someone helps me. I am trying to bring now more sharpness,quality on my images. Please, I need help, it is bothering me a lot, & with confusion,I couldn't able to take good shots! With regards, Siddhun.M.Karthik To love this question, log in above October 01, 2005

Justin G.		it means you're underexposed by 2 or more stops. i'm not trying to sound rude but there's just no other way to type this but i'm not sure where you heard this sunny f/16 rule. there's no "set" settings in photography. when its sunny out f/16 @ 1/500 isn't neccesarily going to be feasible. there are different degrees of sunny. in indiana sunny is pleasant. north carolina, a little more harsh. go to iraq and sunny is having black sunglasses on and your hands over your eyes and you're still getting headaches b/c its so bright. basically if you want to use M, you need to set your aperture according to how much DOF you want, and slide around your shutter speed to get it to say EV 0. If it says EV -2 then you need to increase (make longer) your shutter speed. if it says EV +2 then you need to decrease (make shorter) your shutter speed. Just remember there's not definites or absolutes in photography. Sunny out won't mean f/16 @ 1/500. You could shoot somthing at f/8 1/4000 then turn 90 degrees right and shoot something else at f/8 1/125 still standing in the sun. I didn't mean to sound rude if I did, just hard to type emotions on the computer. .justin. To love this comment, log in above October 02, 2005

Karthik M. Siddhun		Hi Justin, Thanks a lot for your reply on clearing my confused questions. I learned all this sunny f16 from the following Tips on Photography articles. http://www.jafaphotography.com/calibrate.htm Since I got my job 8 months back, near to a lake area and gardens,I started taking a lot of shots on flowers, mostly morning & afternoon time. Now, I am able to control fuly my SLR camera. I was unnecessarily playing with my camera's ISO settings and all other stuffs. You are not sounding rude at all. Your words are straight to subject. That's all. You are welcome, thanks again! With regards, Siddhun.M.Karthik To love this comment, log in above October 03, 2005

This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here Report this Thread